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Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Outfit: lady in Collectif (a truthful outfit)

Ok, this is nothing new, I LOVE Collectif. You've heard me say it 500+ times by now. So, when they made a brand t-shirt, I had to ask myself what kind of super-fan I'd be if I didn't get it? Not least because it's stripey - I love stripey. It's also red - I definitely love red. I'm also lacking in the t-shirt department, so it felt like a good thing to add to my wardrobe. So I bought it... and then I took so long to post photos of it it went out of stock - fashion blogger fail number one.

This cute little tee had to be paired with the Collectif Rebel Kate jeans - yes, the very same jeans I loved so much I stretched them to death (as mentioned here in my round-up of high-waisted jeans styles). Fashion blogger fail number two: taking photos and not posting them for months - this is actually my worst ever offence for that. Good thing I'm not a professional, right?

Here's the thing, I generally use all of my photo sets - if I've gone to the effort of getting out there, usually in the freezing cold, the thought of all that time of both mine and B's going to waste fills me with horror. So far, there's only one full set I haven't used and I could write a list of the things that were wrong with those photos. This was nearly number two and I can't put my finger on why, other than it didn't really feel that exciting an outfit. But an outfit it is and it's one I wore so I had to remind myself of that.

I love creating fun outfits for this blog and I don't wear anything I wouldn't be seen out and about in, but with the UK's climate the way it is I don't get to wear everything as I want to all the time. I'm often shedding layers to get photos then covering it all up again. I know to some bloggers that feels false and they don't do it, but for me that's a good thing about this blog - I can be creative and forget about the cold for that half an hour to wear an outfit I love. Believe you me, if I lived in a hotter climate I wouldn't own as many pairs of jeans as I do! Don't even get me started on how many cardigans I've acquired...

But what do you think? Should bloggers only wear what they actually wear out and about, or do you think it's ok to put the layers out of shot? And are casual outfits like this what you want to see from me?

42 comments:

I love this - it's such a cute and comfy look! It feels weird posting jeans when we live in skirts/dresses, doesn't it? That's what I struggled with when I posted my casual jean-clad outfits recently on my blog - but just because we're not in a dress or skirt, it doesn't make the outfit any less "us"! This outfit is SO you - the top button of the cardi buttoned, the scarf in your hair...it's the details! Lord knows I rock my jeans on the weekends when running errands! ;)

I think we have to realise that perhaps our 'casual' is still 'dressed up' for the majority of non-blogging people, and even more so for non-vintagey people! This is a perfect example - it's co-ordinated and polished, with loads of lovely details, yet somehow in our heads we equate jeans with casual. I too ditch the layers for photos, I own a LOT of coats, but I wouldn't want my blog to just be a coat parade, because it's the stuff underneath I get most excited about. Have a super week, only three more sleeps!! xx

That's a good point! I guess most people don't wear heels with jeans... although to that I think 'they don't know what they're missing' ;) Ha on the coat parade - that's probably a great name for a UK fashion blog... Two more sleeps now! We are SO EXCITED! xx

I think Finland wouldn't have any bloggers if we didn't shed our layers to get outfit photos of those outfits underneath our coats. :D I mean our summer lasts like 2-3 months at best, add 2-3 more months for spring and autumn and rest is winter and/or simply too cold not to wear a coat. In my opinion it's not fake to take away layers, because you're still wearing a beautiful outfit underneath your coat anyway! And I simply can't take outfit photos inside, because I have a way too small apartment that is more like a dark and ugly cave and if I couldn't take them outside either without being called fake, I guess I wouldn't have a blog at all.

On that note, I AM fake-ish at some points, because on weekends I mainly dress up only for outfit photos, even if I wasn't going anywhere. I simply don't have time during the week except on some very rare occasions during the summer when it gets dark around... never. During the winter it's dark when I go to work and even darker when I get out, so no can do. Gotta take those photos at some point, even if it means dressing up simply for that, but I don't mind - I actually love it!

Your outfit is very beautiful and I actually like seeing semi-casual outfits like this every once in a while. I do prefer to see dresses (for inspiration), but I'm up for anything that includes clothing, make up and hair. xx

I think this outfit is so adorable! I love everything about it. I love seeing these jeans pop up again. I don't know if they are still available but I totally should have got them when you first posted about them. As for blogging I take a very casual approach to my blog myself.... I don't do any posts that need to come out weekly or monthly on the same day. I'm terrible with schedules and keeping up with them (a reason why I can never manage to watch a tv while it's currently on the air). I say it's your blog and you should do what you like and what makes you happy <3. I will keep reading either way!

Should I be worried that you recognised them ;) Maybe not if you don't mind that you did, eh? Very true, and posting random casual outfits completely out of chronological order is my thing, so I'm gonna keep doing it!

I really love the casualty and the slight bad-assery of this outfit. The stripe brand top is the coolest, I wish I got one when they were still avail! I think it's completely fine shedding the layers in cold whether for a blog shoot - besides, over half our days in the cold months we spend inside, so without the layers is what we would look like most of the day anyways, but outside photos are great for lighting, so it's perfectly fair in my opinion. Although I do understand where other bloggers are coming from when they don't want to. I also really love the odd post every once in a while of casual outfits, and I want to incorporate more in a creative way, too. So I would say keep them coming every so often!

Slight bad-assery - have to say I totally love that :D Very true, if I ever get to be in a house that doesn't feel like being inside a fridge (aka my own house) this is how I'd be dressed! And I have to say I really DON'T enjoy the freezing cold photo-taking, but I am always so happy with the photos that I don't care in the end. And I sure will keep the casual looks coming here and there :)

I'm very guilty of only taking photos when I've got something new to show off... and even in this one technically this was the first blog outing for the t-shirt, so I still did it! Maybe I need to work a few more re-mixes into my blog life, like my real life!

So cute! I love the twist on the jeans and t-shirt look - it's such a basic, every day look for a lot of ladies, and you do a great job making it feel fun, fresh, and appropriate to your own retro style.I think that there should be a certain level of truth in blogging, but I also think that we're trying to present our best selves when we take photos to post. Just like you might powder away some shine or retouch away a pimple, there's nothing wrong with keeping a coat (or some other less attractive part of your outfit) out of sight.

Yep I agree with you - and I just don't look like my best self in a coat ;) Genuinely I think I don't suit most coats, as they tend to drown me... and I'm very guilty of airbrushing out spots. But in my defence I try to cover the darn things with make-up and by the time I take the photos I've inevitably rubbed it off somehow, so it's only picking up where real-life airbrushing fails!!

I love this outfit!!! And I bought that t-shirt last year too because I am obsessed with Collectif (how comfy is it!?). I shed layers when it's winter here unless I really want to show off my coat or I have a bit of both. I think you mix it up well with your outfits posts anyway x

It's actually so comfy! Every time I put it on I think 'why on earth don't I live in this thing' and have to conclude that if it had long sleeves, I probably would! Who can afford to have an endless stream of different coats to show off in outfit posts... that's my thinking! There's only so many ways I can style half of mine... x

Well first...as always you are adorable,and oh so very put together. I love this casual outfit, and since casual is where I struggle I love seeing it. As a blogger who on occasion shares her outfits, I usually only am photographed in nicer outfits...I do wear them out and about, but my daily outfits would bore my readers so I don't share them. Not sure that helps you decide...but I do hope you will keep sharing both.

Aw, thanks :) I am often much dressier in my photos than I am in day to day life, but it does feel like something that's worth dressing up for! I think everyone agrees with you that it's good to see both so I guess I'll keep doing both!

I did an honest OOTD reascently that was literally me in my pjs lol, yours is much more glam! I love how the red totally pops, it defiantly suits you. I'm on the luck out for some 40s style jeans at the moment but I have short wide legs so jeans have always been an up-hill struggle for me!

Hi Kariss, I have short, stubby legs (I lovingly refer to them as baby bulldog legs) and struggle with denim and pants in general big time. I'm not sure if you've ever given their jeans a spin, but the only vintage styles ones to date that have ever worked for me have been some styles from Freddies of Pinewood. I would be as good as denim-less without them (you may need to get them hemmed, but aside from that, I find they've been very flattering to me and my less than shapely little legs).

Jessica's right that Freddies are a good place to start. I couldn't get them to work with my ribcage, but this seems to be a problem unique to me! It's also possible to have the waist height altered I recently learned... It's an investment, but if you get a pair that works with you it could be worth it! The other one to try is Lady K Loves, who have started selling wider legged, more 40s type styles lately. You'd have to have those taken up too, but again if they fit elsewhere maybe it's worth it to have one really good pair??

Fabulous outfit, really and truly. This just a fun, wearable, super pretty look and something (albeit it with wide legged jeans instead) that I could 110% see myself wearing, too.

I personally think it's a-okay to blog about outfits long after the fact. At the end of the day, it's your blog and yours to do as you please with. I've shared shoots several months after they were taken before and don't necessarily always post in sequential order by any means. I think having a well balanced selection of different outfits (locations, if applicable), brands you're working with (again, if such applies), weather, lighting, etc trumps if you're getting photos up while they're still hot off the camera (so to speak).

Tons of hugs,♥ Jessica

*PS* Thank you for the chicer than chic reminder of how great jeans and high heels look together. Swoon!

Very true - and sometimes I'll take pictures of outfits that end up being quite similar which actually happened here as I took these pictures and the others where I'm wearing these jeans very close together. The other post went up months ago, so it felt too soon for this one! I like being able to post things in the order that makes the most sense to me - and I guess it's not really hurting anyone if it's all over the place chronologically :) x

Please don't take this the wrong way but your are just so incredibly cute and sweet, I want to hug you and kiss your cheeks and keep you in my pocket. I think, as long as the outfits that you share on your blog are outfits that you would actually wear around, it doesn't matter what day or where the pictures are taken. Living in a cold climate, if I only ever shared my outfits, as seen by the public, all my pictures would be of me in a coat and scarf and winter boots. That would get very boring, very fast. It's hard to know what lines to draw when fashion blogging. The bottom line though is that it is YOUR blog, You make the rules and YOU can also break them.

You're fine, I can handle being adorable ;) Yep, same, if we actually were looking at what I generally wear out and about there would be a lot of the same pair of gloves, scarf and 2-3 of my warmest coats!

I usually wear something similar, weather permitting, during the weekends when running errands in town (without the scarf on my head). By the way, back in the 90's it was common to wear jeans with high heels, I used to do it all the time when out to the disco with my friends :-). Jeans + nice bluse + fitted jacket + high heels + lipstick = perfect!Have a great week!

Eva (from Luxembourg / Germany)P.S.: this is the first time I write in your blog although I have been reading it from the very beginning! ups!

I think you're right, I think it is kind of a 90s thing to do high heels with jeans. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as I leave certain 90s trends far behind (I wore a lot of camouflage back then - no one wants to see the return of that).

And thanks so much for commenting, but particularly if you've been reading since the beginning! It's really touched me that you've stuck through all this long way. I've actually just passed the four year mark with this blog just this week :) x

I know only toooooo well the pain of getting outfit photos taken when it's raining and windy! I've pretty much given up for now (or in other words, I am hiding until the sun comes out). This outfit looks so good one you. I wish I could pull of this style. And HELLOOOOOOO, we sooooo need this hairstyle tutorial from you! I have total hair envy right now. Thank you for the comment you left on my blog, the reason why I bought that hairspray was also because my (ex) boyfriend swears by it and I thought I'd get a small can to try. It is great for up-do's! xxxx

I could see you rocking something similar to this - it's not a million miles away from some of your stripe looks ;) Funnily enough, I've already done a tutorial for this hairstyle, I just made the ponytail higher and popped a scarf on top: http://www.cici-marie.com/2013/11/hair-how-to-5-minute-alternative-bun.html I could have used that hairspray when I took these photos!! xxx

I love seeing casual looks ~ though, like yourself Cici, I worry that they are not "exciting" enough to blog about?? Haha, yet ~ I like seeing these looks on my fav. bloggers, it makes me feel human to know I'm not the only vintage girl that actually wears jeans sometimes and doesn't *only* live in dresses or skirts! XD I love the combo of a vintage inspired graphic tee and jeans {or, haha, a skirt! :P} at the moment, so I am feeling this look a lot!! ❤